Indiana Department of Transportation officials met with contractor representatives and consulting engineers Thursday afternoon to review plans for a nearly $1.4 million project in Jennings County that will replace the County Road 560 East bridge over Otter Creek at County Road 610 East. INDOT say that both roads will be closed to traffic at the construction site, located 1.9 miles south of U.S. Highway 50, just south of Butlerville.

Dave O’Mara is the state’s contractor for building a new two-span, 200-foot-long structure with 28 feet of clear roadway side-to-side. INDOT says that county roads will be realigned at the Campbell Township site.

Closures of up to 150 days will begin in mid-June.

Advocates for Children welcomed six new Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers this week.

Janet Ward, representing the National CASA Association, welcomed the incoming volunteers. She reminded them that they are now part of something bigger than themselves. “You are a part of national movement,” Ward said. “From coast to coast, thousands of CASA volunteers are stepping forward to give these children the opportunities they deserve. But there are also still thousands of children who need people like you to lift up their lives, so your work is essential.”

Organizers say that Indiana’s drug epidemic, especially drug abuse by parents, has led to a massive spike in the number of children entering the child protection system. Over the last five years, they say that the annual number of these children served by Advocates for Children has nearly doubled, reaching an all time high of 841 served in 2016.

“These are our community’s most vulnerable children,” said Rick Scalf, Community Outreach Coordinator for Advocates for Children. “And were it not for their CASA volunteers, they might be without a consistent and stable adult influence during one of the most difficult times in their young lives.” Scalf says that CASA volunteers maintain contact with the children, their caseworkers, parents and others in order to “create a holistic picture of the child’s circumstances and make recommendations to the courts about what course of action will be in that child’s best interest.”

Scalf says that with another 300 children on the agency’s waiting list, Advocates for Children is already preparing for it’s next training class, which begins next week. He says that there is still time to sign up. “There’s no simpler way to put it,” Scalf continued. “Our children need you. They need your voice. With a commitment of only a few hours a week, this is a chance to make a difference in a way that will impact our community for generations.”

Advocates for Children provides CASA volunteers for children in Bartholomew, Decatur and Jennings counties. If you would like to learn more, or sign up for a class, visit the agency’s website at apowerfulvoice.org/casa, or call (877) 604-9402.

Congressman Luke Messer, a Republican representing Indiana’s sixth congressional district, was in Columbus this week meeting with area students. Messer returns to Capitol Hill next week after an Easter recess meeting with constituents. The Congressman talks about his initial impressions of how government is working under President Trump.

Messer says he believes the current shake-up in Washington is something that his constituents are happy to see.

Messer says that the Affordable Care Act has been a disaster for working families…

Congressman Messer says the fight over repealing Obamacare is still in its early stages and that that there is still a long way to go before the Affordable Care Act will be fully repealed.

Messer added that he believed that his colleagues in the Senate will follow through on their promises to do away with the Affordable Care Act and replace it with something better.

The Seymour Police Department announced Wednesday that it will be participation in the next “Click It or Ticket” enforcement effort, set to run from May 13 to June 4. Chief Bill Abbott says his officers will join more than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies, and thousands more across the country, to conduct high-visibility patrols encouraging drivers and passengers to buckle up.

“Wearing your seat belt, either as a driver or passenger, is the essential beginning for staying safe on the road,” said Chief Abbott. “Increasing public awareness and heightening enforcement through our participation in this campaign is a great way to boost the importance of seat belt safety. If you are unbelted, we will pull you over.”

Click It or Ticket is an annual enforcement effort supported by federal funding allocated to local departments from the Traffic Safety division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The Seymour Police Department says that more than 10 of its officers will work overtime to conduct seat belt patrols around the clock. According to ICJI, in 2016, there were 827 people killed on Indiana roadways. Of those fatalities, 36 percent were found to be unrestrained.

“I am grateful for all the agencies involved in this campaign, which is vital to encouraging people to buckle up,” said Dave Murtaugh, director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “We will continue to spread the message of how crucial seat belt use is in saving lives and reducing injuries.”

Indiana law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in the Click It or Ticket campaign for over 20 years. In addition, for 2017, Indiana agencies are set to join those from across the Eastern half of the country in a combined “Border to Border” mobilization. On May 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., organizers say this joint mobilization will “be a driving force for seat belt safety, and unbelted, whether driving or riding, will result in a ticket.”

For more information on the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit: www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/ciot/index.html.

Be ready for possible traffic delays on Interstate 65 in Johnson County, beginning Thursday night. The Indiana Department of Transportation says that round-the-clock work on a full-depth pavement replacement project with added travel lanes will last through May 25th. INDOT says that single lanes will close during daytime hours, while double lanes will close at night.

Milestone is slated to begin work Thursday night prepping southbound I-65 lanes between Whiteland Road and State Road 44/Franklin. The schedule is as follows:

• 3 p.m. — SB I-65 left lane closes between mile markers 95.0 and 88.5
• 8 p.m. — SB I-65 middle lane closes between mile markers 94.5 and 88.5; left lane remains closed
• 6 a.m. — SB I-65 middle lane reopens; left lane remains closed

INDOT says that work on both the northbound and southbound lanes will begin on Saturday. In addition, double lane restrictions begin on northbound I-65 Saturday night. A single northbound lane will remain closed during daytime hours.

This work is dependent on the weather.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is asking for your help finding its most-wanted suspect. Deputies are searching for Benjamin Cody Liddle. He is described as a white male, standing 5’8″ tall and weighing 188 pounds. Liddle has blond hair, blue eyes and multiple tattoos. Authorities say that Liddle is wanted on four outstanding warrants.

If you have any information on Liddle’s whereabouts, you are asked to contact Capt. Dave Steinkoenig at (8122) 565-5940. You can also call the Sheriff’s Department Tip Line at (812) 379-1712 or send an email to sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov.

Tips and information can be left anonymously.

North Vernon officials say they want to increase efforts to clean up the city. City Councilman Brian Hatfield told the body during its meeting this week that the number of unlicensed vehicles and broken windows on buildings is too high. He added that making the effort and enforcing ordinances already on the books will go a long way towards cleaning up the community.

Larry Greathouse, the city’s attorney, says that there is already a state law that instructs municipalities on how to handle unlicensed vehicles. He explained it comes down to local enforcement. Police Chief James Webster told the council that his officers could increase enforcement efforts as they come across vehicles that are in violation, but added that he would need some guidance from the body on when, and how, to proceed. As for the window problem, Greathouse explained that the council would need to craft an ordinance dealing with penalties, timelines and enforcement measures.

While council members talked about the aesthetics of having broken and boarded-up windows on downtown buildings, Hatfield stressed that there is also a public-safety component. He noted that some buildings have had broken windows for years, allowing rain and other elements inside and potentially damaging their structural integrity. That drew a hearty agreement from Fire Chief Mike Cole, who said that there are some buildings that he will not send firefighters into. Cole argued that the floors in some of these structures are too damaged and the risk of a firefighter death too great to send people inside.

The council agreed to take the matter under advisement.

Congressman Luke Messer, a Republican representing Indiana’s sixth congressional district, was in Columbus Tuesday meeting with area high-school and middle-school students. Messer explained that his day began downtown to talk to students about leadership.

Congressman Messer stopped by Northside Middle School to take part in a presentation centered on keeping kids safe while online.

Tuesday afternoon’s presentation was put together by Google. Messer joined representatives of the tech giant, who talked about the importance of students protecting their identities, as well as making smart decisions while online.

Messer talked to the Northside students about how their phones open them up to a world of information. He added that, while having that information is great, it is important to realize that there are those who use the internet to spread misinformation and harm others.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission voted Monday to reassign the lease for 310 Washington Street in the Commons to Luciana’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina.

Heather Pope, director of redevelopment for the city, says this will be Alberto and Sarah Bravo’s third location. Naming the restaurant after their daughter, the Bravos opened their flagship location in the Broad Ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis in 2015. The following year, a second location was open on 82nd Street in the Keystone at the Crossing area of Indianapolis. The couple credits the chain’s fast success to its upscale feel, affordable prices and quality food. The couple explained that while they don’t offer a huge selection of dishes, the ones that are on the menu are well made with quality ingredients.

“We are very excited about coming to Columbus and being part of such a great community” said Alberto Bravo. “Luciana’s will be a great fit to this very vibrant downtown area.” The restaurant is expected to open on August 2. The Bravos explained that is a “lucky day” for the family, noting birthdays and other events important to them.

The Bravos anticipate investing between $250,000 to $300,000 in the facility in renovations and new equipment. They are not seeking any financial support from the Redevelopment Commission. The Bravos will take over all the terms and conditions of the previous lease. There are seven years remaining on the current lease, which was broken when former tenant, Jordy McTaggart’s, fell behind on its financial responsibilities and vacated the space.

City officials say they are “in negotiations” with the previous tenant to recoup unpaid funds.

A Bloomington man was rescued Sunday afternoon after his vehicle had been swept off of a Jackson County road. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, say the rescue happened just before 3 p.m. and involved multiple agencies.

Authorities say that 68-year-old Alexander Ferenczy, III, initially called 911 to report that his vehicle has stalled in flood waters on County Road 50 North near County Road 950 East in eastern Jackson County. Trp. Christopher Lockman, along with officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Crothersville Police Department and Indiana Conservation Officers responded to the scene. By time rescuers arrived, Ferenczy’s van had been swept off the road by rushing water.

Trp. Lockman, who is a member of the Indiana State Police Department’s Underwater Search and Recovery Team, determined that a water rescue was necessary immediately, determining that it was unsafe to wait for a rescue boat. Wheeles says the trooper donned his swiftwater rescue gear and entered the water while connected to a line that was being manned by other officers.

Trp. Lockman was able to successfully reach the vehicle, which by then was approximately 300 feet from dry land. Wheeles says that Lockman was able to attach a personal flotation device to Ferenczy and conducted a water rescue carry of the man, who was unable to walk due to a prior medical condition. Officers removed Ferenczy from the water and began administering first aid before he was taken to Schneck Medical Center for further evaluation. Ferenczy’s condition has not been updated.

Trp. Lockman was assisted by Deputy Rob Henley, Reserve Deputies Charlie Murphy and Greg Murphy, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Officer J L McElfresh, Crothersville Police Department and Conservation Officer Blake Everhart.

This was the weekend’s second water rescue from a vehicle locally. Indiana State Police and other law enforcement agencies are reminding you to avoid driving on roadways that are covered by water. Authorities say that just a small amount of moving water is capable of sweeping a heavy vehicle off the roadway. Remember: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”